There's a story in our town
Of the prettiest girl around
Golden hair and eyes of blue
How those eyes could flash at you
How those eyes could flash at you
Boys hung around her by the score
But she loved the boy next door
Who worked at the candy store
Dream on dream on teenage queen
Prettiest girl we've ever seen

She was tops in all they said
And never once went to her head
She had everything it seemed
Not a care this teenage queen
Not a care this teenage queen
Other boys could offer more
But she loved the boy next door
Who worked at the candy store
Dream on dream on teenage queen
You should be a movie queen

He would marry her next spring
Saved his money and bought a ring
Then one day a movie scout
Came to town to take her out
Came to town to take her out
Hollywood could offer more
So she left the boy next door
Workin' at the candy store
Dream on dream on teenage queen
See you on the movie screen

Well very soon she was a star
Pretty house and shiny car
Swimmin' pool and a fence around
But she missed her old hometown
But she missed her old hometown
All the world was at her door
All except the boy next door
Who worked at the candy store
Dream on dream on teenage queen
Saddest girl you've ever seen

Then one day the teenage star
Sold her house and all her cars
Gave up all her wealth and fame
Left it all and caught a train
She left it all and caught a train
Next day she was at the door
Of the lonely boy next door
Who worked at the candy store

by Rodney Crowell: "When I was six years old, I went with my father on a Sunday afternoon to see Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis perform on the old Magnolia Garden bandstand In Channelview, Texas, Magnolia Gardens was nothing more than a boat dock beer joint on the San Jacinto River with a roofed stage, cement dance floor and canvas covered picnic tables along either side. It rained as only it can rain in southeast Texas during both Carl and Jerry Lee's sets. The audience was unfazed by the gully washer; I remember Jerry Lee doing the dirty bop to "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" in six inches of dance floor water. When Johnny Cash came out to headline the show, so did the sun...gloriously. I remember thinking God must really like Johnny Cash, I do not exaggerate when I tell you I heard heavenly angels singing as the sun and Johnny Cash took center stage that late afternoon,. The first words out of his mouth were "how high is the water momma", the opening line from "Five Feet High and Rising". I was stunned by the power of his artistic timing. The second song was "Ballad of A Teenage Queen". Every song he sang that day floored me. I chose "Teenage Queen" for the tribute because it's the tune I sang to myself all the way home in the passenger seat of my father's old red Studebaker.